Locking device for steel retainers



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,631

v F. M. SLATER LOCKING DEVICE FOR STEEL RETAlNERS Filed May 2, 1927avg/W011. EmdM dlatez Patented Feb. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES 1,701,631PATENT OFFICE.

FRED M. SLATER, or nAsToN, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon T0 TNenasoLL-nANn com-PANY, or aunsny CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR STEEL RETAINERS.

Application filed May 2, 1927. Serial No. 188,201.

This invention relates to pneumatic tools, but more particularly toaxsteel retainer and means for locking the same in operative position onthe tool.

The object of the invent-ion is to insure a tight connection between thetool and'the steel retainer.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter and to all of these ends the invention consists of thecombination of elements andv arrangement of parts having the generalmode of operation substantially as hereinafter described and claimed andillustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is anelevation, partly in sect-ion,

of the front end of a pneumatic tool equipped with a lockingdeviceconstructed in accordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the retainer spring, and V Figure 3 isa transverse view taken through Figure 1 on the line 3-3 looking in thedircction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the invent-ion is shown applied to apneumatic percussive tool, only the front end of the barrel A of whichis shown to illustrate a practical application of the invention. Abushing B forms a closure for the front end of the barrel A and has abore O to receive and guide the shank D of a working implement E.Preferably, the bushing B is provided with a flange F at its front endto abut the front end of the barrel A for preventing inward movement ofthe bushing B with respect to the barrel A. The flange F also serves asan abutment for a collar G carried by the working implement E toliinitthe distance which the shank D of the working implement may extendinto the barrel A;

According to the present invention, the front end of the barrel A isprovided with external threads H in engagement with threads J formed inthe rearward end of a cap or nose piece K screwed on the front end ofthe barrel A. Formed in the nose piece K is an annular recess L int-owhich recess extends the collar G of the working implement. The frontend 0 of the recess L is preferably reduced somewhat in diameter to forma shoulder P on which is seated the flange Qv of a bushing R located inthe end 0 of the recess to guide the working implement forwardly of thecollar G.

i the nose As is well known, pneumatic tools of the type to which thepresent invention pertains are subjected to considerable vibration andjars during their operation, thus making it difiicult' to maintainpart-s connected by screw threads in their proper assembled positions.To insure against such unscrewing of the nose piece from the barrel A inthe pres ent instance, the rearward surface S of the nose piece isprovided with a series of notches T having inclined longitudinalsurfaces U and radial end surfaces or shoulders V. In these notches T isseated the loop of acoil spring X encircling the barrel A and having ahook at its opposite end which engages an aperture 3) in the side of thebarrel A. The V coil spring may be of any-suitable material possessingthe requisite resiliency and should consist of at-least one andone-quarter turns to insure against accidental release of the loop Wfrom the notches T.

In order that the loop W may be readily pressed out of the notches Twithout the aid of special appliances or tools, said loop W ispreferably so formed that when it is in its operative position, aportion thereof extends beyond the periphery of the nose piece K.Accordingly, in the present instance, the loop W is bent outwardly fromthe coil of the spring and slightly inclined downwardly with respectthereto for a portion of its length as at c. From the lowermost end ofthe portion 0 of the loop the wire of which the spring is formed is bentinwardly to form a hook (Z adapted to rest against the shoulders V ofthe notches T.

The hook (Z is preferably of such length that when it is in engagementwith the shoulders V, the free end of said hook may abut the wall of thebarrel A.

In practice, whenever it is desired to unscrew the nose piece K from thebarrel A, the loop may be pressed upwardly by the operator out of thenotch T which it engages and the nose piece K may then be readilyunscrewed from the barrel for the purpose of removing the workingimplement or substituting another working implement therefor. After suchchange has been effected,

piece K may again be screwed tightly on the barrel A and the loop V maythen be pressed into engagement with the most suitably located notch T,that is, that notch which is so located that when the loop W is inengagement therewith, a certain tension spring X.

It will thus be seen that this coil spring X will serve the dualfunctions of automatically tightening the connection between the barrelA and the nose piece K and will also hold the nose piece K firmlyagainst the effects of vibration in the tool. In this way the threads Hand J of the barrel A and the nose piece K respectively will at alltimes be protected against such Wear as frequently occurs in devices ofthis character where the parts are merely screwed together without theprovision of proper means for guarding against accidental unscrewing ofthe same.

I claim:

1. A locking device for the steel retainer of a fluid actuatedpercussive tool, comprising a front head, a collared steel in the fronthead, a nose piece threaded to the front head, said nose piece beingprovided with notches on its rearward surface and a spring retainer forlocking the nose piece to the front head, said retainer being in theform of a wire coiled through at least one and one-quarter turns, oneend of said wire retainer being secured to the front head and the otherend of the retainer being formed with a loop adapted to engage thenotches on the nose piece and projecting outwardly beyond the peripheryof the nose piece in position to be grasped for releasing the device. V

2. A locking device for the steel retainer of a fluid actuatedpercussive tool, comprising a front head, a collared steel in the fronthead, a nose piece threaded to the front head, said nose piece beingprovided with notches on its rearward surface and a spring retainer forlocking the nose piece to the front head, said retainer being in theform of a wire coiled through at least one and one-quarter turns, oneend of said wire being bent radially inward to engage a notch in thefront head the other end of the retainer being bent outwardly to form aloop, the end of the wire forming said loop being straight and pointedsubstantially toward the center of said coil, said loop projectingbeyond the periphery of the nose piece in position to be grasped forreleasing the device, and bent downwardly to facilitate cooperation withthe notches in said nose piece.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FRED M. SLATER.

